Your bargaining committee is calling for an official strike vote to be taken December 4-17. All members belonging to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) will be eligible to participate in the online vote.
Your bargaining committee believes this strike vote is necessary because the employer has refused to offer the monetary package being provided to other unions. Specifically, while other unions have been offered significant funding to tackle recruitment and retention, health science professionals have been offered much less — approximately $100 million less — even as workload and burnout are so severe that 1 in 3 health science professionals are thinking of quitting.
To quote from the B.C. government’s own November 13 news release: “As is the case with the framework agreement reached with the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA), the BCGEU Main Agreement in the Public Service includes additional increases that are over and above what will be made available to the rest of the public sector as part of the 2025 Balanced Measures Mandate.”
Without the funding being offered to these other unions, it will be impossible for your bargaining committee to deal with the priorities identified by members: fixing the classifications system, protecting benefits, ensuring fair premiums, and investing in retention of burnt-out staff.
This unequal treatment is not just unfair, it is disrespectful of the importance of frontline health care professionals, and it would contribute to further deterioration in the health care system that our communities and our economy depend upon.
Your elected bargaining committee recommends all members vote YES to send a strong message to the employer that we will not be treated as second-class citizens.
HOW THE STRIKE VOTE WILL WORK
The strike vote will be held online December 4-17. All members will be sent voting credentials via email on the day the voting begins.
You will not be able to vote if you have not provided the union with a personal email address. Please ensure your local has your current email address. More information will be provided as we approach the opening of the vote.
In solidarity,
Your CUPE representatives to the HSPBA bargaining committee